Information Without Borders:

Perspectives from the Federal Government:

A Canadian Digital Information Strategy

Ingrid ParentLibrary and Archives Canada

Halifax, March 3, 2007

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Presentation Outline

Background on Library and Archives Canada

Canadian Digital Information Strategy

• Goals• Consultations and National Summit• Next steps

Public policy issues relating to making information accessible

Government roles in a knowledge society

How citizens interact with government information

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Creation of Library and Archives Canada

Library and Archives Canada, 2004

• National Archives of Canada, 1872

• National Library of Canada, 1953

The English Report, 1999

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Library and Archives Canada Collection

The LAC Collection includes:

• 19 million books, periodicals, newspapers, microfilms, government publications

• 170 km of unique textual documents

• 200 000 Canadian theses and dissertations

• 25 million photographs

• 3 million maps and architectural designs

• 270 000 hours of film, audio and video

• 370 000 works of art

• Pedabytes of electronic documents

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Library and Archives Canada Act: Preamble

WHEREAS it is necessary that

(a) the documentary heritage of Canada be preserved for the benefit of present and future generations;

(b) Canada be served by an institution that is a source of enduring knowledge accessible to all, contributing to the cultural, social and economic advancement of Canada as a free and democratic society;

(c) that institution facilitate in Canada cooperation among the communities involved in the acquisition, preservation and diffusion of knowledge; and

(d) that institution serve as the continuing memory of the government of Canada and its institutions;

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Context: Why a National Digital Strategy?

Digital activities in Canada are:• Uncoordinated

• Under-resourced

• Relatively weak content

• Not focused on preserving what we create

• Underdeveloped compared to other G8 countries

• Insufficient contribution to research and development on digital information

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Canadian Digital Information Strategy:Timeline of Events

Initial exploratory meeting, October 2005• Strong endorsement for a national strategy• LAC should coordinate this initiative and provide a

secretariat function to it.

Four Thematic Meetings, Spring 2006• Digitization on a National Scale• Optimizing born-digital production• Building a digital preservation infrastructure• Fostering access and use within a rights framework

National Summit, December 2006

www.collectionscanada.ca/cdis

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Key Outcomes of the Strategy

Strengthened content - Canada’s accumulated knowledge is digital.

Ensured preservation - Canadians are assured long-term access to

digital content of enduring value.

Maximum access - Canadians have optimal access to Canada’s

digital content online.

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Key Characteristics of the Strategy

Collaborative – multi-jurisdictional and cross-sectoral

Distributed responsibility – with some formal coordination

Sustainable – e.g. seek funding to fill gaps

Progressive – e.g. in its approach to rights

Supporting and fostering: • Open access where possible

• ‘One universe’ – a more integrated commercial and non-commercial information environment

• Linguistic and cultural diversity

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LAC roles

Facilitating development of the overarching strategy – leadership and Secretariat

Being a major player in it, as a national content, service and infrastructure provider

• A major digitization operation• A large-scale national Trusted Digital Repository of documentary heritage

(primarily federal government and cultural heritage) • Fostering a decentralized preservation network of TDRs• Supporting national access catalogues• Developing/promoting standards & best practices• Providing guidance and training • Contributing R&D

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Next steps: Strategy Development

Establish Strategy Development Committee and Strategy Review Panel

Strategy development – draft is targeted for Summer 2007

www.collectionscanada.ca/cdis

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Next Steps: Cooperative Initiatives

Study day for Canadian graduate programs of library, archival, museum and information management studies to examine training needs and niche research areas.

Seek ways to scale up digitization of Canada’s documentary heritage.

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Next Steps: Public Policy Development

Explore the feasibility of proposed changes to the regimes surrounding

• Crown copyright,

• orphan works, and

• public access to publicly-funded research.

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Government Roles in a Knowledge Society

Create – All government departments generate information

Gather – StatsCan (surveys), Service Canada (personal data)

Acquire – LAC ( Canadiana and Government Records)

Fund – NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR

Analyze – StatsCan, Environment Canada

Secure – Service Canada, RCMP, CSIS, PWGSC

Inform – LAC, other heritage agencies

Preserve – LAC (documentary heritage)

Provide access – Government OnLine, FedAA, other services

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How Citizens Interact with Government Information

LAC Strategic Choices

• Citizen/Client research and evaluation built into management decision making

Government must manage information with public interest in mind

Ongoing dialogue